Queensland Ballet has announced a 60th anniversary season for 2020 that celebrates the company’s heritage and its future in equal measure.
Artistic Director, Li Cunxin, said the 2020 season was brimming with treasures old and new as a way of celebrating where the Company has come from and where its bold ambitions are taking it.
“This is a very special season for us, as we’re able to honour all those who have come before us and enabled QB to be the global ballet company it is today,” Mr Li said. “The Company was founded 60 years ago by the great Charles Lisner OBE, who had a vision to develop both the art form of ballet and an audience for it here in Queensland. Charles was all about bringing this international art form to local audiences and was also committed to taking ballet into regional Queensland to share the magic. These characteristics are still very much at the heart of QB today and we’re very proud to continue his legacy.”
“For QB, 2020 is very special. It’s a season in which we hope to honour and acknowledge the many creative talents, both on and off the stage, who have made us what we are today, however it’s also a springboard into the future for us as a company. This is the year in which we officially open our purpose-built Queensland Ballet Academy, bringing together ballet and academic studies for our students in one facility to establish what we hope will become the premier elite ballet training program in the region. Later in the year we’ll open our Company home at the redeveloped Thomas Dixon Centre in Brisbane’s West End, a world-class performing arts centre that will be transformational not only for us as a Company, but also the wider arts industry and community. We are immensely proud to take forward the legacy of Charles Lisner in developing and nurturing the art form of ballet and contributing to the arts and cultural landscape of Queensland and beyond. We hope that Season 2020 is one of our best yet and a sign of what is to come for this state ballet company with global ambitions.”
Queensland Ballet’s 2020 season will include (in chronological order):
- The Lady of the Camellias (SHANGHAI BALLET)
- 60th Anniversary Gala
- Dangerous Liaisons (MELBOURNE TOUR)
- Dracula
- Tutus on Tour (REGIONAL TOUR)
- Bespoke
- Peter and the Wolf
- The Sleeping Beauty
- Queensland Ballet Academy Gala
- Synergy
- The Nutcracker
See below for a more detailed outline of this exciting season!
Season subscriptions are on sale from Wednesday, 18 September 2019, and can be purchased via phone, email, or through the Queensland Ballet website. Single tickets go on sale from Monday, 2 December 2019 and season ticket sales close Friday, 8 May 2020.
Queensland Ballet – Season 2020
Queensland Ballet presents Shanghai Ballet – The Lady of the Camellias
12 – 14 March
Queensland Ballet proudly presents an exclusive to Brisbane season by the acclaimed Shanghai Ballet.
In this compelling production of the beloved romantic classic, The Lady of the Camellias, Shanghai Ballet’s highly accomplished dancers will bring the tragic story of love and sacrifice to life through lyrical dance. Based on the landmark 1848 novel by Alexandre Dumas fils that inspired Verdi’s opera La Traviata and the Oscar-winning musical Moulin Rouge!, this dramatic ballet follows one of the most beautiful and brazen courtesans in all of Paris as she leads a glittering yet tragic life.
This season will be performed to recorded music.
60th Anniversary Gala
20 – 28 March
Celebrating sixty extraordinary years of Queensland Ballet on stage.
An unforgettable retrospective that celebrates the wealth of dance created and presented by Queensland Ballet since the first performance by Charles Lisner’s company, The Lisner Ballet, in 1960. International guest stars will join the Queensland Ballet dancers in paying tribute to the contributions of Queensland Ballet’s five Artistic Directors with excerpts from iconic works including Charles Lisner’s Chopin pas de deux (1965), Jacqui Carroll’s Carmina Burana (1982), Harold Collins’ The Lady of the Camellias (1996) and Francois Klaus’s The Little Mermaid (2003) and Cloudland (2004). Fittingly, the season will culminate in Harald Lander’s thrilling and masterful homage to classical ballet, Études (1948) showcasing Queensland Ballet under current Artistic Director Li Cunxin.
Music to be performed by Queensland Festival Philharmonic.
Dracula
8 – 23 May
A tale of forbidden passion.
Thrilling and seducing countless generations, Bram Stoker’s classic gothic tale lives on in this dramatic neo-classical ballet. Premiered in 2018 by West Australian Ballet, acclaimed Polish choreographer Krzysztof Pastor brings to life the dark and sensuous story of Dracula as he tries to reunite with his one true love, Mina. Driven by unbridled passion, Dracula unleashes a reign of terror in his pursuit of love. Featuring a dramatic musical score composed by Wojciech Kilar, composer for the 1992 film, Bram Stoker’s Dracula, and sets and costumes by acclaimed international designers, Dracula will take you on a spellbinding journey across centuries and into a dark world where true love never dies.
Dracula is a co-production between Queensland Ballet and West Australian Ballet.
Parental guidance is recommended for this ballet.
Bespoke
31 July – 8 August
Thought-provoking dance that breaks through visual barriers.
Queensland Ballet’s collaborative season will feature three new contemporary works by acclaimed choreographers Natalie Weir, Remi Wortmeyer and Petros Treklis. Bespoke takes a fresh look at ballet dancers in the contemporary space as it considers interactions with technology, design, lighting and music to showcase Queensland Ballet in new ways, morphing the boundaries of ballet.
Peter and the Wolf – a My First Ballet production
5 – 7 August
A woodland fairy tale adventure for the littlest lovers of dance and music.
Young audiences are invited on a woodland adventure as Peter and his friends, Bird, Cat and Duck, try to capture the Wolf who is causing havoc in the countryside. Created by Queensland Ballet’s Greg Horsman, this brand new ‘My First Ballet’ production pays homage to the 1960 season of Peter and the Wolf, choreographed by Queensland Ballet Founder and former Artistic Director Charles Lisner OBE. Featuring the iconic music of Sergei Prokofiev from his symphonic fairy tale first performed in 1936 and accompanied by a narrator, this delightful ballet will capture the imaginations of children and the young at heart, as story, ballet and symphonic music come together.
Third in the ‘My First Ballet’ series, Peter and the Wolf provides an immersive live theatre experience for children, with a suite of educational and creative activities to be enjoyed around the performances, at home or elsewhere.
The Sleeping Beauty
25 September – 10 October
The fabled story of the sleeping princess is one of ballet’s most loved classics.
Choreography by Greg Horsman after Marius Petipa, Tchaikovsky’s luminous musical score, and Renaissance-inspired costumes will sweep audiences away to follow the tale of the beautiful Princess Aurora who is cursed to sleep for a hundred years and awoken by her handsome prince. Reimagined by Queensland Ballet’s own Greg Horsman in 2015, ballet lovers young and old will enjoy this traditional fairy tale complete with dragon, dancing cats, and the disenchanted evil fairy!
Queensland Ballet Academy Gala
16 – 18 October
Introducing the artists of tomorrow in an exhilarating showcase of classical and contemporary works.
In celebration of the first year in the Academy’s new state-of-the-art home at Kelvin Grove State College, this Gala will present the artistic talents of the dancers in the elite training programs. Take a glimpse into the future as new works and classics by legendary choreographers such as Sir Kenneth Macmillan and Queensland Ballet’s own Greg Horsman and Paul Boyd, are performed by the Academy dancers.
Queensland Ballet Academy 60th Anniversary Performance
In tribute to the Lisner Ballet Academy — the first step to achieving the dream of building Queensland’s own ballet company — Queensland Ballet Academy students will present a celebratory one-night only performance in the Lyric Theatre honouring works by former Queensland Ballet choreographers and directors.
Synergy
6 – 14 November
High energy, vibrant works showcasing a vision of Queensland Ballet’s future.
Synergy brings dancers from the Pre-Professional and Jette Parker Young Artist Programs together with Queensland Ballet Company dancers to perform an exciting season of new works from choreographers emerging and existing. With a season of contemporary and neo-classical works, dancers and choreographers work together to influence the shape and journey of the performance. In addition to attending the performance, aspiring young dancers can take part in a series of Masterclasses with Queensland Ballet’s professional Artistic and Academy teams.
The Nutcracker
11 – 19 December
A magical Christmas ballet for the whole family.
At the stroke of midnight on Christmas Eve, little Clara finds herself embarking on the magical adventure of a lifetime when her gift, a Nutcracker, comes to life! Be whisked away with Clara to the enchanting Land of Sweets where the Sugar Plum Fairy watches over whimsical snowflakes and pirouetting lollies. For the eighth consecutive season, Ben Stevenson’s dreamlike choreography and Tchaikovsky’s enduring score will charm all ages and bring a bit of magic to your Christmas celebrations – the perfect festive ballet for the whole family to enjoy.
Queensland Ballet on Tour
Dangerous Liaisons
17 & 18 April, Arts Centre Melbourne
A classic tale of seduction and betrayal.
Following a world premiere season in Brisbane and tour across regional Queensland in 2019, Queensland Ballet presents Dangerous Liaisons for an exclusive Melbourne season in 2020. Based on Pierre Choderlos de Laclos’ novel, Queensland Ballet’s Artistic Associate and world-renowned choreographer Liam Scarlett has breathed new life into this sultry tale. Set amongst the aristocratic elite of late 18th century France, this evocative and vivid work will scintillate audiences. With a story that has captivated audiences around the world for over 200 years, Dangerous Liaisons is a hedonistic tale of love, virtue and humanity, reimagined into a dramatic ballet for mature audiences.
Dangerous Liaisons contains adult themes and is not recommended for children.
A co-production between Queensland Ballet and Texas Ballet Theater.
Tutus on Tour
13 June – 19 July
Celebrating regional Queensland audiences.
Throughout June and July 2020, the Queensland Ballet dancers will pack up their tutus, tights, and pointe shoes to present a wonderful season of ballet to venues and audiences across regional Queensland. Tutus On Tour brings together a selection of outstanding dance works performed by Queensland Ballet’s Company Dancers, Jette Parker Young Artists and Pre-Professional Program dancers.
Each performance will be followed by an engaging Q&A session and open discussion, bringing audiences one step closer to Queensland Ballet artistic team members and dancers. Queensland Ballet Teaching Artists will be on the road from June to July offering inclusive and enriching workshops, delivered in local school and community settings.
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